Wii U is innovating while platform holders like Sony and Microsoft are chasing faster processors and prettier pictures, Nintendo of America head Reggie Fils-Aime has claimed in a new interview. The exec feels that Nintendo’s competitiors need to act fast if they’re going to keep up.

Speaking with CNET, Fils-Aime downplayed claims that Wii U will appear irrelevant once PS4 and Xbox 720 launch, stating, “In the end, our competitors need to react to what we’re doing in the marketplace and need to figure out what their innovation will be.

“It’s likely that faster processors and pretty pictures won’t be enough to motivate consumers. They need to react to what we’ve done and we need to continue innovating with the Wii U and we will.”

Responding to claims that Wii U is not – in fact – a ‘next-gen’ console at all, Fils-Aime continued, “For us, launching new systems is about bringing new consumer experiences to the marketplace and we’re doing that with Nintendo land and third-party publishers are doing it with games like ZombiU. For us, now is the right time to launch new hardware.”